Have you always been musical?
As a very young child I was fascinated by the grand piano in my grandparent’s home in Norway. I remember clambering onto the piano stool and exploring in amazement the sound of these black and white keys with tiny fumbling fingers!
Growing up in Sydney I was always singing, and I wrote my first song when I was about 11 years old. I was asked to sing it for the whole school which gave me a taste for performing… I would dream of making albums and spent hours singing into a hairbrush!
In my late teenage years I went back to Norway and spent 6 months studying music and singing. This experience was a great inspiration to me and was followed some years later by 12 years of vocal training, studies at the conservatorium in Sydney and incorporating performances at that time in Sydney and Fiji.
I believe with any talent or gift it takes a lot of determination and hard work to pursue and fulfill the potential.
What/who are your musical influences?
Whilst growing up in my parents’ home the house boomed with the voice of Tom Jones and Shirley Bassey etc. and I thought there was something astonishing about the quality and depth of their voices which led me to appreciate singers like, Whitney Houston, Randy Crawford, Ella Fitzgerald, Barbara Streisand, Tony Bennett, and Eva Cassidy.
What/who are you listening to right now?
I always love to listen to jazz vocalists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone and Barbara Morrison. Much of my jazz repertoire is inspired by their music. Lady Gaga, Guy Sebastian, John Legend and Jessica Mauboy are amazing contemporary vocalists that I love listening to as well.
Favourite line from a song?
One of my favourite lines is from “The Sound of Music” … ‘Climb every mountain, ford every stream, follow every rainbow till you find your dream….’
I’m Norwegian so I love mountains! They are also inspiring lyrics to not give up.
Which instruments do you play?
Keyboard
What gig past, future or present would you like to have been to/go to?
I have performed in Europe (EUROPAfest) and New Zealand several times at Jazz Festivals and would love to get back to international performing.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years in the music industry?
One of my favourite venues is the Brisbane Jazz Club; a classy venue on the Brisbane River where I have the privilege of working with some of Queensland’s finest musicians.
My solo work on the keyboard is also a great passion incorporating a wide variety of repertoire; as long as I have opportunities to sing and perform, I’m happy!
Where can people find your music?
Spotify: search for Vibeke Voller. I have 3 albums.
Website: www.vibekevoller.com
FB: Vibeke Voller Vocalist | Facebook